201From Benjamin Franklin to Daniel Burton, 21 November 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Being informed that Mr. Jonathan Odell purposes applying to the Venerable Society, for an Appointment to the Mission of Burlington in New Jersey, I beg leave to acquaint you that from the Character he bears I apprehend such Appointment may be very agreable to the Congregation there; and that if the Society think fit to favour his Request, I shall...
202To Benjamin Franklin from Margaret Stevenson, 22 November 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I rived hear Thursday Night at Ten a Clock alramd [alarmed] all the wilage Mrs. Moriss gone to Bead but got up. I cant express her Joy. I thought it wod have bin to much for her. It is a misrabl being for cold and hard Lod[g]ing. But Poor Mrs. Walker is every kind and car[e]full to keep me warm and gete me all the good [ torn ] she cane but how I am to geet...
203To Benjamin Franklin from the Earl of Morton, 24 November 1766 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Lord Morton’s Compliments to Dr. Franklin, Acquaints him that he has been elected one of the Auditors on the part of the Society, and desires the favor of his Company to Dinner on Saturday next the 29th, and that he would come about one o’Clock so as there may be time to Examine the Accounts before Dinner. Addressed: To / Doctor Franklin For James Douglas,...
204“Arator”: On the Price of Corn, and Management of the Poor, [29 November 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , November 27–29, 1766. The first editor to identify Franklin in print as the author of this paper was Benjamin Vaughan, who included it in his 1779 edition of Franklin’s writings. Before that it had been twice reprinted. A periodical published by the French physiocrats, called Ephémérides du citoyen , printed a translation in February 1767, introducing it with...
205To Benjamin Franklin from [William Franklin], [December 1766] (Franklin Papers)
AL (fragments): American Philosophical Society [ Top part of first surviving sheet is missing. ] Side the Water. But, if we [ torn ] late Publications in Virginia [ torn ] still remains a considerable Spirit [ torn ] and Opposition. They have been told, and [ torn ] must know, that tho’ the Parliament have solemnly [dec]lar’d their Right to tax America, they do not mean to exercise it in...
206To Benjamin Franklin from the Associates of Dr. Bray, [4 December? 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Printed form with ms insertions in blanks: American Philosophical Society The Associates of Dr. Bray, for establishing Parochial Libraries, and instructing the Negroes in the British Plantations, meet on Thursday the 4 Day of December at Ten o’Clock, at their Office at the Angel and Bible, in Ave-Mary Lane. Addressed: To / Dr. Franklin Near / The Strand For the Associates of Dr. Bray, a...
207To Benjamin Franklin from [John] Blair, 8 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
AP: American Philosophical Society Dr. Blair presents his Compliments to Dr. Franklin and has used the freedom of sending his Servant for a small parcell of the Pine Tops which he was so obliging as to say he would give him. While the writer of this note might be Hugh Blair (1718–1800), a Scottish minister who was also Regius professor of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres at the University of...
208To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Potts, 10 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you upon my arrival in Liverpool as did my Friend and Relation Mr. Benjamin Rush, we also sent you some Letters from your Friends in Philadelphia in our favour, the design of which Letters was that you would be so kind as to write to any of your Friends in this place in our behalf, as I am somewhat apprehensive you have not received those Letters,...
209To Benjamin Franklin from the Earl of Morton, [11 December 1766] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Lord Morton woud have spoke with Dr. Franklin but he was gone immediately after the Counsil; Should be oblig’d if the Dr. could breakfast with him to morrow about 10 and will send for an answer earlier. Addressed: To / Dr Franklin / Craven Street The phraseology of this note suggests that Lord Morton, president of the Royal Society from 1764 until his death,...
210From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 13 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my last I have received your kind Letters of Sept. 28. and Oct. 4. I wonder you had not heard of my Return from Germany, as I wrote by the August Packet, and by a Ship from Holland just as I was coming over. It is not amiss that the Reverend Doctor refused that Privilege. We shall not want it. And it will be a good Reason for us to refuse him...
211From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 13 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : William L. Clements Library I congratulate you cordially on the News I see with much Pleasure in the Papers, that you are chosen Speaker of the Assembly. I foresee great Good to our Country from your being in that Station, as I know you will fill it ably and worthily. It is long since I have heard from you; not a Line of later Date than Sept. 22. not a Word since the Election, or the...
212To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, 13 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (incomplete): American Philosophical Society [ First part missing ] the Profile is Cume Safe and is the thing as everey one ses that has seen it I am verey much obliged to you for it everey bodey knows it that has seen it. As to the Candil sticks and Corke Screw thay will doe when you return in the Spring. Be So good as to give my love to Mrs. Stephenson and her Dafter tell me is Polley is...
213To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Hunt, 14 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (mutilated): American Philosophical Society Your friendly and obliging Favour by Captain Falconer came safe to Hand. I think myself happy in so good a Friend, and shall always endeavour by an upright Conduct to deserve your Friendship. The Judgment you have passed on my Essay does me great Honor, and [offers?] a Pleasure in reading that Part of your Letter which I want Words to express. I...
214From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 15 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I omitted one thing in my Letter of Saturday, which I intended to mention, viz. to desire you to send me three or four young Trees of the Newtown Pippin kind, or else a few Cuttings for Grafts solder’d up in a Tin Tube to keep them from drying. Mr. Bartram or Mr. Roberts will be good enough to tell you which is best, and also the best time to send them....
215To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 15 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Not having received any more than one Letter from you since last May: and the Packet expected this Month not arrived, while this Opportunity offering by a Merchant-man, I take the Liberty to scribble again to you, especially as I this Post have News from Mr. Foxcroft that you consent to allow me £20, per Annum more, for which I return you my Sincere and...
216To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Price, 15 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received the inclosed letter from Dr. Priestly last Saturday night. I know nothing of the list of books on Electricity mentioned in it. I believe it was not in your letter to him, which pass’d thro my hands. He is in a hurry for it, and if you have it he will be much oblig’d to you for Sending it him, or conveying it to me that I may Send it to him. I am...
217To Benjamin Franklin from [Samuel] Potts, 19 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Potts presents his Compliments to Mr. Francklin and Dsires the favour of his Company to Dine on a Doe of the Postmaster Generals at the Kings Arms Tavern in Cornhill on Monday next at 3 OClock in Afternoon. Addressed: To / Benjamin Francklin Esqr / Craven Street / Strand For Samuel Potts, comptroller general of the General Post Office, see above, X , 149...
218From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush and Jonathan Potts, 20 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Fordham University Library With this I send you Letters for several of my Friends at Edinburgh. It will be a Pleasure to me if they prove of Use to you. But you will be your own best Friends, if you apply diligently to your Studies, refraining from all idle useless Amusements that are apt to lessen or withdraw the Attention from your main Business. This from the Characters you bear in...
219From Benjamin Franklin to William Cullen, 20 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I beg Leave to recommend to your favourable Notice two young Gentlemen the Bearers of this Letter, Messrs. Rush and Potts Sons of my Friends in Philadelphia. They are at Edinburgh to improve themselves in the Study of Physic, and from the Character they bear of Ingenuity, Industry and good Morals, I am persuaded they will improve greatly under your learned...
220From Benjamin Franklin to Sir Alexander Dick, 20 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I am heartily glad that the Information procur’d from my Son, affords any Satisfaction to your Friend Mr. Swinton. I beg Leave to recommend to your Countenance and Protection the Bearers of this Letter, Mr. Rush and Mr. Potts, Sons of my Friends in Philadelphia, who come to study in your Medical School. They are strongly recommended to me by many of my...
221From Benjamin Franklin to [William Robertson], 20 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society The young Gentlemen who will have the Honour of presenting you this Letter are Mr. Potts and Mr. Rush, drawn to Edinburgh by the Fame your Medical School has so justly acquired; intending there to accomplishing them selves there in the Study of Physic. They are recommended to me in the fullest and strongest Manner, by a Number of my Acquaintance in...
222From Benjamin Franklin to John Swinton, 20 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Josiah C. Trent Collection in the History of Medicine, Manuscript Division, Duke University Library; draft: American Philosophical Society I am extreamly glad that the Intelligence procur’d from my Son, relating to your Lands in New Jersey, affords you any degree of Satisfaction. You may rely on his doing you any farther Service in his Power. He has not mention’d to me that he has been...
223To Benjamin Franklin from John Tunnicliff, 21 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Received your kind Letters for which I return you my Best Thanks. If I can get a good Plantation either in Pensylvania or the Jerseys provided the same, is in a good Neighbourhood and the House High and Ary Sittuation to render it Healthy and near the River Delaware or the River Schoolkill with sufficiant Meadow and Pasture of the White Honey-Suckle,...
224To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 22 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Yours of the 11th of October is now before me: In Answering of which some various Passions intermix alternately in my Mind: In the first Place your kind Wishes for the Return of my Health, demands my grateful Acknowledgements—and, thank God, considering what Sicknesses have surrounded me, I have escaped wonderfully. The next Thing, you tell me Col. Hunter...
225To Benjamin Franklin from [Andrew] Cheap and from Mr. and Mrs. [Israel] Wilkes, 23 December 1766 (Franklin Papers)
AL (two): American Philosophical Society These two invitations are printed together because they are written on the same sheet of paper, though in different hands, and clearly relate to each other. They were certainly written on the same day. Though December 23 fell on a Thursday in 1760 as well as in 1766, this paper and its contents are assigned to the latter year because the people...
226To Benjamin Franklin from the Committee of American Merchants, 29 [December] 1766 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society The Committee of America Merchants meet this Evening 6’Clock and desire Mr. Franklins attendance. Addressed: For. / Mr: Franklin / Cravenstreet While the 29th of a month fell on a Monday seven times during 1765–68, the editors are inclined to assign this note to Monday, Dec. 29, 1766, because during that winter the merchants and the American agents were...